Havana, May 24 (RHC) —Greeting local artists back from performing in Washington DC, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said their presence in a Cuban arts festival there can open inroads to improved relations with the United States.

Addressing performers who took part in the festival held at Washington's Kennedy Center, Diaz-Canel said the setback in relations with the United States under the current administration cannot be forever and he renewed Cuba's willingness to cooperate and maintain respectful relations with the United States.

"I do not believe the actual U.S. policy will be eternal, and your presence in that festival in Washington can open new paths towards better ties," said Diaz-Canel.  He said Cuba was in favor of a further normalizing of ties with the United States.

There is a continued effort on the part of the current US government to roll back the state of relations. We want to move forward," he said, and the festival demonstrated that "there are still points of contact." 

The Cuban art festival “From the Island to the world,” organized by the Kennedy Center, brought together more than 400 Cuba-based and US-based artists.